Sh*t That Comes Out Today: October 21, 2014

Hi MetalSucks reader! Welcome back to Shit That Comes Out Today, your satanic bible of each week’s heavy new releases. We list ‘em, we spotlight ‘em, we link you to their preview jams and full streams — and everybody wins. And if we missed any legit new shit, we beg you to email us! Thanks! Now crank it up!

As The World Burns makes its waves with razor-sharp riffage and guest stars like Randy Blythe (on “So Low”) and Devin Townsend (on “Open Letter To God”). Why such huge guests? Well, Pitch Black Forecast is drummer Gene Hoglan and a guy from Mushroomhead. Still, the album makes no haste and no pretense about its purpose: to shred! Pitch Black Forecast is one of those bands who rely on hooks and groove to get you moving. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, but it may feel repetitive.

Not sure the last time we came across a brutal death metal band from Greece — well, since Septicflesh — but I’m sure glad I just did! Soulskinner’s underground, amateur feels don’t mean it doesn’t also sound immediate and pro. And you know that when they wrote the opening riff for “Deadland Pt. 1,” they looked at each other with omfg faces, ready to be completely melted. Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is actually their third album — their previous releases are worth checking out as well.

Every week brings more post-metal albums, so we might forget that many post-metal’s origins back are traced back to hardcore. Xerxes exemplifies a softer, more progressive flavor — and while the theatrical and sometimes obnoxious vocals may turn off some metal folk, the songwriting, style, and execution should win over most.

The description for this From Earth jam: “Expect music with a hint of Gojira, progressive elements of Mastodon and the aggression of Lamb of God.” Hm, I dunno about that — I can hear the Gojira, but I’m not finding the Mastodon-levels of progression or the Blythe sexiness. But Dark Waves is an all-around okay album in its respective genre. It’s one which makes you look forward to the next.

As one of those kids whose first “metal” band was Slipknot, let me just say this: .5: The Gray Chapter is throwback as fuck. With that in mind, let me say also that this album rules. It reminds me of why my dumb teenage mind fell in love with this stuff. But on the other hand, the album falls short in my more mature (lol) tastes. Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) remains the best Slipknot album to date, but this is not far behind.

What’s this? A Pantera knockoff that doesn’t suck? Despite the obvious similarities, Indestructible Noise Command manages to sound bespoke and natural, i.e. they’re not lifting from Pantera but merely emulating the style and adding a bit of metalcore. The riffs are groovy as fuck, and the vocals sound like they’ve come from a younger, fitter Phil Anselmo. I can see an easy pathway to hating this band, but I don’t think they deserve it! What say you?